Bulk pork sausage is not like traditional sausage. Typically, pork sausage is ground pork seasoned with different spices and stuffed into a thin casing composed of a layer of the pig's intestine. However, bulk sausage is packaged without the casing, usually in tubes or rolls that are vacuumed packed or sealed. There are three recommended ways to defrost bulk sausage. Your preferred method will depend in part on how the bulk sausage is wrapped.

Place the bulk sausage in the refrigerator on a bowl or plate. Let it defrost in the refrigerator, which will usually take a little more than a day, depending on the size of the package. This is the safest way to defrost any kind of meat because it reduces the chances of bacterial growth and ensures that the freshness of the product is maintained as much as possible.

Turn on the kitchen sink and wait for the water to run cold. Place the bulk sausage under the cold water and let it thaw only if the package is vacuum packed and sealed. This method is only possible because the sausage is protected from the water because it is sealed.

Use the defrost setting on your microwave. Although this is the least favorable way to defrost meats, it is an acceptable method. To ensure that browning of the sausage does not occur, it is recommended that you remove the sausage from the microwave while it is still a little frozen. If you are using this microwave method, you must cook the sausage immediately to prevent bacteria growth. Cook the sausage on medium heat, stirring occasionally while breaking the sausage apart with a wooden spoon or spatula.